Statoil’s Gudrun Facility Shut Down After Hydrocarbon Leak

Production from Statoil’s Gudrun field has been halted after a hydrocarbon leak was discovered yesterday, according to Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA).

The leak, of unknown description, occurred at 0640 on Wednesday 18 February. The PSA says production was then shut down and the facility depressurised.

There were 26 persons on board the Gudrun facility when the incident occurred, and 97 persons on board the West Epsilon drilling rig operating nearby.

The Gudrun field came on stream in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea in April 2014 and channels produced oil and gas 55 kilometers south to the Sleipner A production platform where it is processed and then sent ashore to Statoil’s Kårstø Terminal and via subsea gas lines.